Sanitary garbage receptacle closure



y 23, 1968 R. c. CLAUSER 3,393,825

SANITARY GARBAGE RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Filed Sept. 14, 1965 F/G. I

L I I I I I I A ,I G. 4

36 39 32 3/ INVENTOR.

RUSSELL c. CLAUSER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,393,825 SANITARY GARBAGE RECEPTACLE CLOSURE Russell C. Clauser, 984 Corwin Ave., Akron, Ohio 44310 Filed Sept. 14, 1965, Ser. No. 487,247 2 Claims. (Cl. 220-87) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to an improvement in garbage cans, and more particularly the cover of a garbage can.

An aerosol bomb or other means for incremental separation of small amounts of disinfectant from a larger bulk thereof, is fastened to the underside of the cover of the can, and means extending through the cover (and preferably located close to the handle of the cover) is provided for activating such separation, so that small amounts of the disinfectant can readily be showered over the contents of the can, preferably while the cover is on the can. This can be done each time the cover is raised, or at more or less frequent intervals.

By an aerosol bomb, we refer to a container of a liquid charged with gas or low-boiling liquid under pressure which on the opening of a valve, discharges the liquid contents in the form of a spray. The aerosol bomb of this invention contains any sprayable disinfectant suit able for use in a garbage can and for discharge from an aerosol bomb.

Instead of an aerosol bomb, one might employ means for the attachment of a sizable chunk of solid disinfectant to the cover with means for grating off (or otherwise separating) a relatively small amount of the disinfectant into the contents of the can. Thus, the disinfectant may be stored as a liquid, a solid, or a gas onto the underside of the cover, with means triggered from the top of the cover for releasing a relatively small amount to contact the contents of the can.

If an aerosol bomb is used, it may be located in any one of various positions, and it may be provided with any suitable release valve. Any suitable means is provided for triggering the valve. The trigger is advantageously located adjacent the handle on the cover so that it can be triggered by the thumb of a person when he grasps the handle; the handle may be of any design. However, since the valve will not be triggered while the cover is off of the can, and only when the cover is in place on the can, it is merely a matter of convenience to locate the trigger in proximity to the handle.

The invention is further described in connection with the accompanying drawings in which presently preferred adaptations of the invention are described in greater detail. In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of a garbage can, showing preferred disinfecting means under the cover;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged sectional view on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE '3 is a side view of the same; and

FIGURE 4 is a side view of alternative disinfecting means.

The garbage can 5 is provided with a cover 6 having v the handle 7.

FIGURES 2 and 3 show an aerosol bomb 10 held in the spring clamp 11 on the underside of the cover 6.

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The valve means '12 is of the usual type which releases the contents of the bomb when deflected. There is an opening (not shown) on the underside of the projection of the valve 12.

Adjacent the handle 7 and in a position in which it can be readily depressed by the thumb of the hand of a person which is grasping the handle, is the triggering device 15 which is held in the cover by the encircling bracket 17 which is welded to the top of the can and to the triggering device. The triggering device comprises the button 20 which is normally in the extended position due to pressure of the spring 21. When depressed the plunger 23 deflects the valve 12 and releases the contents of the aerosol bomb into the can. This forms a mist within the can which settles over the top of the contents and disinfects the contents as well as the exposed interior surface of the can. This mist may be any suitable disinfectant and generally will be dissolved in an aqueous or organic solvent. The trigger may be depressed either just before removing the cover or just after removing the cover, or at any other suitable time. By depressing it for only a fraction of a second the entire contents of the can become disinfected. When the aerosol bomb is empty it is readily removed from the clamping device 11 and replaced by a full bomb.

Other means may bbe utilized. For example, the triggering device 1'5 of FIGURE 4 may have attached to its plunger 23' an element which has a corrugated or grating surface 31. This is designed to operate against the solid cake 32 which may be any suitable disinfectant such as, for example, lime or chloride of lime, or other suitable material. For this purpose a different type of clamp 35 is desired which has an end member 36 to which is fastened the cylindrical guide 37 surrounded by the spring '39 which is fastened to the end 36. Thus the spring presses the cake 32 against the grating mechanism. By depressing the trigger of the grating mechanism the element 30 moves vertically and removes an increment of the cake each time it is depressed. This is operated at convenient times such as just before or after the addition of garbage to the can, or at stated intervals.

The drawings are illustrative of devices which may be used for incremental addition of a disinfectant over the contents of the can.

The can and its accessories may be made of galvanized iron or of suitable plastic or of any desired construction.

The invention is covered in the claims which follow.

What I claim is:

1. A garbage can with a cover with a handle, and an aerosol disinfectant bomb attached to the underside of the cover, said bomb being provided with deflectable valve means extending from an end thereof for releasing small amounts of the disinfectant from said bomb, and means passing through the cover and exposed on the outside of the cover where it is spaced laterally from the handle, which contacts the valve and deflects the same when pressed for triggering such actuating means.

2. The garbage can of claim 1 in which the means which is exposed on the outside of the cover is so positioned with respect to the handle that it can be actuated by the thumb of the hand of a person which is grasping the handle.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,233,312 -7/ 1917 Clements 220-87 1,622,853 3/1927 Turnbull 22087 2,281,630 5/ 1942 Southard 22087 2,43 4,23 8 1/ 1948 Wolfson 220-87 3,229,914 1/ 1966 Seavey 220-87 RAPHAEL H. SCHWARTZ, Primary Examiner. 

